Turkey on Monday said it wanted international air support for its army’s assault on the jihadist-held Syrian town of Al Bab where the military is facing tough resistance from ISIS extremists.
Turkish forces have for weeks joined pro-Ankara Syrian rebels in fierce fighting for Al Bab, taking increasing casualties as they approach closer to the centre.
Turkey is part of the US-led coalition against ISIS jehadis in Syria and lets Western war planes use its Incirlik air base as a hub for air raids. “As for our operations in Al Bab, the international coalition should assume its responsibilities, especially where air support is concerned,” presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said in televised comments in Ankara.
“The weather conditions can sometimes entail delays,” Kalin acknowledged. “But the absence of air support when there is no valid reason is unacceptable,” he added.
The US and its allies have been conducting their own air strikes against ISIS targets in Syria but there have been no reports of them specifically aiding the Turkish operation.